Fire-escape



P. REINWALD.

FIRE ESCAPE. APPLICATION FILED,MAR- 16, 1920.

Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET P- WI TNESS A a/W BY I fiATTOR/VEYS P. REINWALD.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-16, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- WITNESS IN VEN TOR i ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 1, 1921.

1 a window in the event of fire.

2 oregoing, ,will be set forth A UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' PA'lJ'L REINWALD, OF SAN FRANCISCO, GAIliIFORNTA.

FIRE-ESCAPE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PAUL REINWALD, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city andcounty of San Francisco and 5 State of California, have invented a certain new and useful Fire-Escape, of which the I -following is a specification.

The invention relates to flexible fire escapes which may be lowered quickly from An object of the invention is to provide a flexible fire escape which isnormally wound on a reel and which may be readily unwound and lowered from a window in 1 the event of fire.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for securing the upper end of the fire escape to the window casing so that it cannot become dislodged.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved form of flexible ladder in which the steps remain horizontal.

The invention possesses other advantaeous features, some of which, with the in the following description, where I shall outline in full, that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the drawings accompanying and forming part of the present specification.

In said drawings-.

Figure 1 is an elevation of a window showing the fire escape of my invention depending therefrom} A Fig. 2 1s a vertical section through a window showing the means for securing the device of my invention.

Fig. 3 is an under side view of one of the steps of the fire escape.

0 Fig. 4 is a detail of one cornerof a step showmg the method of attaching the suspending member thereto.

Fig. 5 is a perspectlve of the wmdmg reel. 5 Figs. 6 and 7 are details of the clamp,

he fire escape of my invention is of the v flexible ladder type, provided with rigid steps which are maintained in a horizontal position at all times. 0 larly designed to be thrown from a window of a building and ofi'ers a safe escape to the ground. The device comprises a cross bar or holding bar 2 of sufiicient strength to support the loaded ladder. This bar is 5 of greater length than the width of the window, so that when the ladderis unwound Specification of Letters Patent. t

dinally with respect The escape is particu- I from the window, the building .wal the Window 4 and Passingthrough Patented Mar. 1, 192.1. Application filed March 1e, 1920. Serial No. 866,280.' T

the crossbar will engage ropes-5', either metallic or fabric, which depend to the ground and to which the ste s 6 are secured. Eachrope is doubled on 1t-, self, so that four strands of rope depend and each rope is secured to the cross-bar by a U-bolt 7 or other suitable device, so that there is no movementof the ropes longituto the cross-bar. By preventing relative movement and securing the ropes to the steps, relative movement of the steps is prevented'and' they remain horizontal. The.ropes are spaced apart laterally such distance that they readily pass through the window.

cans are provided for securing the cross-bar to the window. ledge or'sill 8, so

that it may not become displaced. Pivotedto the cross-bar 2 is a link 9, which when not in use folds against the cross-barand whichwhen in use, overlies the window sill 8. -The link 9 is square in cross section and slidably arranged thereon is a clamping head 12 which is adapted to engage the edge of the window sill, to clamp the link and the cross-bar in position. The clamping head 12 comprises two members 13-44, piv} v oted together at the top by the links 15 and provided with square apertures in which the link 9 makes a' snug sliding fit. By'spreading the members 13-.14 apart at the bottom, they grip the spread at the bottom by the eccentric cam 16 journaled in the member 13 and bearing gainst the face of. the member 14, which cam is operated by the lever' 17 In operation, the head is shoved tightly against the edge of the window sill and the lever17 gulled up to clamp the cross-bar to the win owframe.

The ropes 5 are provided at suitable inter-, vals with ste s 6, which are preferably made of wood. T e steps are cut away at each link 9. The members are corner formin seats through which the the step resting on the bolts. 1

step into the brackets 22 which are secured to thew step. This produces a stroll construction in which all liability of. slippage of the steps on the ropes is eliminated. The proper number of steps, spaced apart a proper distance, are provided to enable a person to reach the ground from the window fromwhich the fire escapedepends. A weight 23-is preferably attached to the lower step to insure the descent of the ladder when it is thrown from the window.

The cross-bar or anchor bar 2 is provided at its ends with trunnions 24, and, when not in use, the cross-bar acts as a reel upon which the ladder is wound. The trunnions on the cross-bar are inserted in bearings in the upper endof the standards 25 on the carrlage 26, and an extension 27 on one trunnion is shaped to receive a crank 28, for rotating the cross-bar. The upper ends of the standards are preferably provided with straps 29 to prevent unseating of the trunnions during rotation of the cross-bar. The carriage 26 is provided with casters 31, so that it ma be readily moved into desired positions. n the event of fire, the carriage is rolled to awindow, the lower end of the ladder thrown therefrom and the remainder of the ladder unwinds from the carriage until the cross-bar disengages itself and contacts with the wall atthe sides of the window. The cross-bar is then clamped in position and the apparatus is ready for use.

101mm: 1. A fire escape comprising a rope ladder adapted to depend from a window, a crossbar to which the rope ladder is attached and which is adapted to engage the building wall at the side of the window and a clamp foldthe window sill to lock the cross-bar in position. f

2. A fire escape comprising a rope ladder adapted to depend from a window, a crossbar to which the rope ladder is attached and which is adapted to engage the building wall at the side of the window, a link pivoted to the cross-bar and overlying the window sill and a head on the link adapted to engage the window sill to clamp the cross-bar 1n able on the cross-bar and adapted to engage Y underlying the corners ofthe steps, bolts securing the clamps together in pairs and brackets engaging the bolts and secured to the steps.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set 111 hand.

y y PAUL REINWALD 

